The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has refuted reports that network operators’ most recent SIM ban was an attempt to thwart the protest, which was scheduled to begin on August 1.
This was said by ALTON Chairman Mr. Gbenga Adebayo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday night. He added that it was only a coincidence that certain Nigerians were getting ready for a protest at the same time that telecom providers were blocking lines.
Even after completing the NIN-SIM linkage, several subscribers’ lines have been blocked by their telecom companies over the weekend.
This occurred when several youth organizations prepared a statewide demonstration to be held from August 1 to August 10, to demand solutions to the nation’s growing cost of living and economic difficulties.
According to information obtained by The News Chronicles, the most recent SIM-barring initiative is compliant with the December 2018 mandate from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directing telcos to completely block lines whose associated National Identity Numbers (NINs) have not been validated by April 15, 2024. Later, the deadline was moved to July 31, 2024—two days away.
What Alton Says
Adebayo responded to the social media rumors that the telecom companies were attempting to thwart the planned demonstration by blocking millions of cell lines, saying:Â Â
“I have received enquiries regarding this matter. No group or organisation is drawing boundaries as a result of the planned demonstration.”
“It is coincidental that the blockage of lines occurs at the same time that a demonstration is planned. We are not involved in any way in the protest proceedings.”
“Telecommunications companies offer non-discriminatory services as service providers. Our hands are completely clean. Go to your network service provider, and the problem will be resolved.”
The chairman of ALTON clarified that the NIN verification was the reason for the lines being barred. Adebayo emphasized that its members had a duty to serve everyone without interruption and discrimination.Â
Subscriber group responds
In response to the matter, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, National President of the National Association of Telecom Subscribers, stated that the purpose of the line blocking was not to irritate any individual or organization.
Ogunbanjo claimed that although there had been a recent announcement regarding the matter, many subscribers had chosen to ignore it.
“The amount of NINs that are incorrectly completed is concerning, and when you question the people who are impacted, they will tell you that they completed their NIN registration at a kiosk or something similar.”
“Many people register for NINs under false pretences, and some even use their own names. The main point is that incorrect registration was made. I beg everyone to take the appropriate action and visit accredited NIN centres,” he remarked.
What to note
The NCC ordered all telecom providers to implement complete network blocking of any SIMs that have not submitted their National Identity Numbers (NIN) by February 28, 2024, at the latest, in December 2023.
Similarly, on April 15, 2024, clients who have filed their NINs but have not been validated were to be blocked. However, the deadline was moved to July 31, 2024.
In addition, regulations were released stating that a subscriber is only permitted to have four active SIM cards and that any additional SIM cards will be blocked by March 29, 2024.
This instruction is a component of the continuing NIN-SIM harmonization effort by the Federal Government, which mandates that all customers update SIM registration records with authentic NIN information.
